Back Channel to Cuba : The Hidden History of Negotiations Between Washington and Havana

Challenging the conventional wisdom of perpetual hostility between the United States and Cuba--beyond invasions, covert operations, assassination plots using poison pens and exploding seashells, and a grinding economic embargo--this fascinating book chronicles a surprising, untold history of bilateral efforts toward rapprochement and reconciliation. Since 1959, conflict and aggression have dominated the story of U.S.-Cuban relations. Now, William M. LeoGrande and Peter Kornbluh present a new and increasingly more relevant account. From John F. Kennedy's offering of an olive branch to Fidel Castro after the missile crisis, to Henry Kissinger's top secret quest for normalization, to Barack Obama's promise of a "new approach," LeoGrande and Kornbluh reveal a fifty-year record of dialogue and negotiations, both open and furtive, indicating a path toward better relations in the future. LeoGrande and Kornbluh have uncovered hundreds of formerly secret U.S. documents and conducted interviews with dozens of negotiators, intermediaries, and policy makers, including Fidel Castro and Jimmy Carter. The authors describe how, despite the political clamor surrounding any hint of better relations with Havana, serious negotiations have been conducted by every presidential administration since Eisenhower's through secret, back-channel diplomacy. Concluding with ten lessons for U.S. negotiators, the book offers an important perspective on current political debates, at a time when leaders of both nations have publicly declared the urgency of moving beyond the legacy of hostility. History is being made in U.S.-Cuban relations right now. This powerful book is essential to making sense of the new and ongoing steps towards normalization between the longtime antagonists. Challenging the conventional wisdom of perpetual hostility between the United States and Cuba--beyond invasions, covert operations, assassination plots using poison pens and exploding seashells, and a grinding economic embargo--Back Channel to Cuba chronicles a surprising, untold history of bilateral efforts toward rapprochement and reconciliation. Since 1959, conflict and aggression have dominated the story of the United States and Cuba. Now, William M. LeoGrande and Peter Kornbluh present a remarkably new and relevant account. From John F. Kennedy's offering of an olive branch to Fidel Castro after the missile crisis, to Henry Kissinger's top secret quest for normalization, to Barack Obama's promise of a new approach, LeoGrande and Kornbluh reveal a fifty-year record of dialogue and negotiations, both open and furtive, indicating a path toward a world beyond the legacy of hostility. LeoGrande and Kornbluh have uncovered hundreds of formerly secret U.S. documents and conducted interviews with dozens of negotiators, intermediaries, and policy makers, including Fidel Castro and Jimmy Carter. The authors describe how, despite the intense political clamor surrounding efforts to improve relations with Havana, serious negotiations have been conducted by every presidential administration since Eisenhower's through secret, back-channel diplomacy. Including ten critical lessons for U.S. negotiators, the book offers a key perspective on the normalization process underway and illuminates a fascinating passage in U.S.-Cuban relations as it happens. Challenging The Conventional Wisdom Of Perpetual Hostility Between The United States And Cuba--beyond Invasions, Covert Operations, Assassination Plots Using Poison Pens And Exploding Seashells, And A Grinding Economic Embargo--this Fascinating Book Chronicles A Surprising, Untold History Of Bilateral Efforts Toward Rapprochement And Reconciliation. Since 1959, Conflict And Aggression Have Dominated The Story Of U.s.-cuban Relations. Now, Leogrande And Kornbluh Present A New And Increasingly More Relevant Account. From Kennedy's Offering Of An Olive Branch To Castro After The Missile Crisis, To Kissinger's Top Secret Quest For Normalization, To Obama's Promise Of A 'new Approach, ' Leogrande And Kornbluh Reveal A Fifty-year Record Of Dialogue And Negotiations, Both Open And Furtive, Indicating A Path Toward Better Relations In The Future--provided By Publisher. Introduction: Rebuilding Bridges -- Eisenhower : Patience And Forbearance -- Kennedy : The Secret Search For Accommodation -- Johnson : Castro Reaches Out -- Nixon And Ford : Kissinger's Caribbean D'tente -- Carter : Close, But No Cigar -- Reagan And Bush : Diplomatic Necessity -- Clinton : From Calibrated Response To Parallel Positive Steps -- George W. Bush : Turning Back The Clock -- Obama : A New Beginning? -- Intimate Adversaries, Possible Friends. William M. Leogrande And Peter Kornbluh. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 485-500) And Index. Challenging the conventional wisdom of perpetual hostility between the United States and Cuba -- beyond invasions, covert operations, assassination plots using poison pens and exploding seashells, and a grinding economic embargo -- this fascinating book chronicles a surprising, untold history of bilateral efforts toward rapprochement and reconciliation. Since 1959, conflict and aggression have dominated the story of U.S.-Cuban relations. Now, LeoGrande and Kornbluh present a new and increasingly more relevant account. From Kennedy's offering of an olive branch to Castro after the missile crisis, to Kissinger's top secret quest for normalization, to Obama's promise of a "new approach," LeoGrande and Kornbluh reveal a fifty-year record of dialogue and negotiations, both open and furtive, indicating a path toward better relations in the future. "Auxiliándose de la investigación de archivos clasificados estadounidenses referentes a varios episodios de diálogo entre Washington y La Habana, el estudio de diversos registros oficiales como el archivo del departamento de Estado y las entrevistas a personajes clave, como Fidel Castro y Jimmy Carter, los autores realizan un análisis político y periodístico completo sobre la historia de las relaciones diplomáticas oficiales y no oficiales entre Estados Unidos y Cuba, desde 1959 hasta la actualidad."--Amazon.